Your Guide to Obtaining an Umrah
Visa from India
Traveling to the holy city of Mecca to perform Umrah, is a pilgrimage ritual for the Muslims that is held in high spiritual regard across the globe. Umrah is an act of worship that has its roots in the Sunnah and though not compulsory like the Hajj, a great number of Muslims would wish to carry it out as a way of getting closer to Allah. For the Indian pilgrims, the foremost step in planning the journey is getting an Umrah visa from India. This blog aims to provide detailed information on the requirements and costs as well as packages for residents wishing to perform Umrah.
What is an Umrah Visa?
An Umrah visa is a special type of visa issued by the Saudi authorities that allows Muslims to travel to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of undertaking Umrah, which is a non-mandatory pilgrimage. Umrah, in contrast to Hajj, is a pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any month of the year. This makes it the most preferred option by numerous Muslim members who want to visit the sacred cities without the hustle and limitations of Hajj.
How to Apply for an Umrah Visa from India ?
To apply for an Umrah visa from India, you need to follow a few basic steps:
- Choose an Approved Travel Agent: The Saudi government insists that any intending traveler have to obtain the Umrah visa from the recommended travel agents. These agents are supposed to manage all the papers exercised by Saudi correspondents as visa, plane tickets, hotel and meal services, intra-Saudi transportations, etc.
- Prepare Required Documents:
- Valid Indian passport (with at least 6 months validity from the date of travel)
- Passport size recent photograph
- Proof of relationship (for women traveling with a mahram, i.e., a male guardian)
- Originals of return air ticket which got confirmed
- A valid email ID and contact information is required for registration.
- Medical insurance (which is now required since 2016 for all Umrah performers).
- Visa Application Process: Once you have all your documents in order,your travel agent will forward the visa application to the Saudi consulate. On average it takes 5 to 10 working days to process the application, and it is highly recommended that one should apply for the visa well ahead of time.
- Visa Approval and Fees: Once you are granted an Umrah visa you will receive it through your travel agent. The visa is normally for thirty days starting from the day you enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to enable you to complete the Umrah.
Umrah Visa Price from India
The Umrah visa price from India varies with season, travel agency, and the package selected. In most cases, the visa cost only is cheap but other costs like airfare, lodging, and ground transportation can be costly. In a nutshell, the Umrah visa fee for most Indians can cost anywhere from ₹500 to ₹1,500 subject to the policies of the Saudi consulate and and any changes in diplomatic policies.
But visa prices are just a fraction of the total expenses. There are also other expenses that you need to take into account while organizing your trip.
Conclusion
Getting an Umrah Visa from India is not a hard task if one is doing it through any of the recognized Agencies or travel agents. In order to make your journey to the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah fruitful and spiritual one should always choose a proper Umrah package from India. European Travel provides a spectrum of services recorded for their highly efficient and responsive services and advantageous packages. All of your travel arrangements—visa processing, transportation, accommodation, and more—are handled by our team, and with all these services being taken care of by our experienced team all you have to do is worry about your spiritual mission.
